National Day of Reason 2012

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image of National Day of Reason logoThursday May 3rd is the National Day of Reason in the United States. The day is a secular celebration for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers in response to the National Day of Prayer, that is unfortunately a legal holiday in the United States. This country has many issues from high unemployment to religious conservatives attacks on women’s rights. The government shouldn’t be holding national days of prayer, we need reason to help solve human problems.
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A Humanist You Should Know:
Margaret Sanger

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image of Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger

Margaret Sanger (1879 – 1966) is a controversial figure in history both for what she accomplished, distributing contraception information and the founding of Planned Parenthood, and for other views she held, such as support for the now discredited theory of Eugenics. It’s her effort to fight against religious and social conservatives for the right of women to have control over their own bodies that she is a Humanist you should know.
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Pride v. Prejudice

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image of 3 people Having fun at the Reason Rally March 2012
Having fun at the Reason Rally March 2012

Guest Post by Derrick S.

As Humanists, we may think of ourselves as “good without God,” but the expression “evil little thing” captures what many people in the United States think of someone supporting Humanism. Humanists face potentially serious consequences from prejudice and discrimination. At the Reason Rally, Humanists helped make a safe space where people could be honest about their Humanism and enjoy the company of others. Now, many of us want to find and create more safe spaces.
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One Humanist You Should Know:
Robert G. Ingersoll

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image of Robert G. Ingersoll by Brady-Handy
Robert G. Ingersoll by Brady-Handy

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 – 1899) was, in his time, the greatest orator in the United States. He was also known as the “The Great Agnostic”. Yes, Ingersoll wasn’t a religious preacher, he was a preacher for freethought. Although he was popular with the public he also had to deal with criticism from the establishment which also included preventing him from trying for elective office. He is one Humanist you should know.
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Why Strident Atheists Don’t Bother Me

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created image of freak out on atheismIn the decades I’ve been involved in the atheist and Humanist movements, I’ve seen many “inner-party” battles over policy, plans, and actions. Many atheists I know are very vocal to the point they piss off many of my Humanist friends. So-called strident atheists never bothered me because of simple points I keep in mind that lowers my threshold of annoyance. I wish more in the freethought community would keep these hints in mind.
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Framing Humanism Is Okay But Not At The Expense Of Honesty

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Framing the word HumanismHumanism is a strange collection of individuals in a stew of rationality, all of us looking for the truth for our world view. We, as Humanists, know we must work with believers and other theists to find common ground with the goal of bettering the human condition. Andy Norman, writing for the Humanist Network News, an e-zine of the American Humanist Association, tries to offer tips for dialogue on Humanism to non-humanists but does so by giving up honesty in the process.
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